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The Real Cost of a European Road Trip
As much as I adore traveling by train in Europe, there’s nothing like having the flexibility of a car when you’re exploring a new region. So when my mom and sister flew over to Europe to visit me, we decided to renting a car was the only logical option for our...
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Tarte Flambée- a Recipe for Alsatian Pizza
After my recent visit to Alsace, where I consumed a near criminal amount of tarte flambée, I thought it was high time I learn to make the dish myself. Tarte flambée is a traditional Alsatian dish is kind of similar to pizza. (Just don’t tell the Alsatians that!) For a...
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The Beauty of San Sebastián at Sunset
San Sebastián- Basque Country’s most beautiful city, is never more stunning than at sunset, especially from the summit of Monte Igueldo. From there you can soak in the views of San Sebastián, which contain beach and sky and mountains. Though I know I’m...
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Surf’s Up in San Sebastián
Besides buying millions of macarons, my 13-year old sister had one other wish for our French-Spanish vacation- she wanted to go surfing. And she wanted me to come with her. To that, I responded, “Are you crazy, it’s April! The water’s going to be...
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A Taste of Basque Country in San Sebastián
Spain- a country that has owned a very dear piece of my heart since I spent the summer with a Spanish family in sunny, terracotta-roofed Andalucia when I was 16. But Basque Country, located way up in the northeast corner of Spain? Basque Country was totally different from the...
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Getting Ritzy in Biarritz
On my my fairly budgeted French road trip with my mom and my sister, I knew there was one destination where we would have to go all out- Biarritz. Biarritz is a French resort town known for its glitzy past as a 19th century seaside destination, when it was graced by European...
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How to Become Fluent in a Second Language
So you want to learn a second language? Good. In my humble opinion, everyone should learn another language. But let me first say- it’s not easy. In fact, it’s really hard. But, it’s also incredibly satisfying, fun and rewarding. And not to mention useful. What...
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"One's destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things. "
- Henry Miller
A Day Trip to Île de Ré, France’s Most Adorable Island
What’s better than a day spent on a sandy, windswept French island strewn with colorful lighthouses, ponies and daisies? Well as they say in La Belle France, absolument rien.
Read MoreThe Only Americans in La Rochelle, France
When traveling Europe, one finds that English-speaking tourists are quite plentiful in big cities like Florence, Paris and Rome. In Paris especially, us Americans are basically a dime a dozen.
But in the lovely French harbor town of La Rochelle? We were actually kind of a novelty. In fact my mom, little sister and I were the only non-French speaking tourists who seemed to be visiting at all.
Read MoreA Blissful Sunday Picnic in a French Park
Spring- a magical season wherever you may be, but one that feels particularly magical in Paris- do you know what a relief it is to feel sunshine on your face and squish grass under your toes after the dreariest, greyest winter of your life?
Read MoreThe Loire Valley in the Mist
While driving south with my mom and 13-year old sister on our epic French road trip, we passed sign after sign for the châteaus of the Loire Valley.
“Want to stop at one of the Loire Valley châteaus, mom?”
“Sure. I think it would be good for your sister to see one.”
Thus began the most random road trip stop of my life- the Château de Chambord.
Read MoreThe Start of a French Spring: In Photos
Spring is here! Seemingly overnight, Paris bloomed, bringing forth delicate blue forget-me-nots, chirping swallows and soft, greener than green grass. It has literally been sunny every single day for a week, and I can feel my spirits lifting each day. Winter, it seems, is over. May picnic season begin.
Read MoreA Very Special (and Asian) Announcement!
Big news! I just booked a one-way ticket to Asia! Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to finally commit to making this long-awaited journey happen. (Or how stoked I was to score a $430 dollar flight, haha.)
Come the end of August, I will be on a flight bound for Hong Kong. From Hong Kong I’ll be playing it by ear- but Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia are all certainly on my to-see list.
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